Friday, January 30, 2015

SUPPORT CDTA

Dom Calsolaro abd Dennis Kariusare on the mark regarding the value and importance of CDTAto local residents.However not because of climatechange and over use of fossil fuels.CDTA uses clean air, gas poweredbuses which improves air quality.

Messages

1a

Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:23 am (PST) . Posted by:

The proposed 2015/16 Executive Budget does not have an increase in
funding for CDTA, or the other upstate public transportation
authorities. Yet, the Governor has proposed funding to keep Thruway
tolls at their current rates and massive amounts of money for NYC
transportation-related projects.

With the budget hearings now going on, and I think transportation is
scheduled for today, I am asking that you make the case for fair and
equitable funding for CDTA. Many people of low income depend on CDTA to
get to their jobs and to get to medical appointments, etc. It is
unfair, in my opinion, to supplement vehicles traveling on the Thruway,
many from out-of-state, with State taxpayers' dollars, while those most
in need of public transportation see no increase in State aid for public
transit operations.

In addition, the use of public transportation helps with the issues
related to climate change and our over-reliance on fossil fuels.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

The proposed 2015/16 Executive Budget does not have an increase in
funding for CDTA, or the other upstate public transportation
authorities. Yet, the Governor has proposed funding to keep Thruway
tolls at their current rates and massive amounts of money for NYC
transportation-related projects.

With the budget hearings now going on, and I think transportation is
scheduled for today, I am asking that you make the case for fair and
equitable funding for CDTA. Many people of low income depend on CDTA to
get to their jobs and to get to medical appointments, etc. It is
unfair, in my opinion, to supplement vehicles traveling on the Thruway,
many from out-of-state, with State taxpayers' dollars, while those most
in need of public transportation see no increase in State aid for public
transit operations.

In addition, the use of public transportation helps with the issues
related to climate change and our over-reliance on fossil fuels.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Dominick Calsolaro

Climate change is beyond the control of humans. An abundance of fossilfuels is a blessing, not a curse.

Buses are of great benefit and convenience to low income residents andhelp reduce traffic congestion in urban places. CDTA also provides goodjobs to local residents.

Due to the excessive use of road salt our roads, trees, bridges, vehiclesand homes, as well as our personal health are adversely impacted.

The day will come when more people will use clean air buses becausethey can't afford the price of a car.

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) has announced that
service changes will go into effect on Sunday, January 25, 2015.
Highlights include improved service on key trunk routes and enhanced
frequency on high performing neighborhood routes. Some minor time
adjustments have also been made to other routes for schedule reliability.

Take a look below and click on the link for more information. Customers
may also contact our Customer Service Center at (518) 482-8822 or stay
connected with CDTA's latest initiatives by visiting facebook.com/
CDTAiride or by following us on twitter.com (@CDTA).

Friday, January 23, 2015

Sunday, December 21, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Winter/Spring 2015

We live in one of the nicest remaining residentialneighborhoods in the City of Albany because we havehad an active neighborhood associationwith strong leadership, for the past 29 yearsand your support.

Spring is a time of renewal. A time to renew yourinvolvement in your neighborhood association. YOUR ASSOCIATION WORKS WHEN YOU DO!

Long time homeowners, and new residents, have a stake in making sure our neighborhood remains a good place to live. There are plenty of issues .Read neighborhood website: http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Friday, January 07, 2011

Our
neighborhood association has been amajor factor in maintaining and improving
the
residential integrity and
environmentalquality
of our neighborhood for the past23 years.

We have defeated land use
and zoning
changes
that would have adversely
impactedour neighborhood, and adjacent
neighborhoods.

We were instrumental in the
creationof Buckingham
Pond Park and setting asideopen spaces including the acre green
spaceand conifer
buffer at Krum Kill/New Scotlandthe green space at the SW corner of
SouthManning /New
Scotland.

We have
worked to keep graffiti, vandalismand crime at a minimum in our
neighborhood.

2011
presents many challenges for ourneighborhood.

1. Traffic/Pedestrian Safety. In the past
weekthere have been a
number of auto accidentsin the vicinity of New Scotland Ave, Krum
KillRd and Buckingham
Dr., which have resultedin serious injuries and one
death.

The root
causes of these accidents include: execessive speed, reckless
driving
and failure
of drivers and
pedestrians to be
alert to what
theyare doing , to road conditions and towhat is going on around
them.

Speeding
traffic on main roads like New Scotland, Western, South Manning
Whitehall,
Krum Kill,
Buckingham and
many tributary
residential
streets
is a serious
problem that needs
the attention
of the Albany Police andthe Mayor.

We
promoted retention/improvement of
Crestwood Plaza
as a neighborhood
commercial
plaza.

Current
plaza management needs to improve the appearance of the
plazaby litter
control and
landscaping/plantings including flowers and flowering
bushes/trees.

3. The SW Corner of Whitehall at
New
Scotland

We
promoted clean up and removal of thederelict former gas station and
successfullyopposed
further commercial developmentof that 3/4 acre parcel. We advocated
thatthe developer of
the adjacent condos deedthe parcel as park land to the city as
partof thec condo
development approval. Thiswas done.

We have recommended that the parcel
bededicated as the
Dan O'Connell MemorialPocket Park, landscaped with a
rollingberms, planted
with a mix of conifersharwoods, flowering shrubs and
perennialflowers.
Also, a few benches, a flagpole anda small stone/plaque in memory of
Danwho lived father
down Whitehall Rd forthe latter years of his life. This
remainsto be done by
the City in cooperation withthe condo
developer.

4.
The Stewart's Shop: Whitehallat New
Scotland.

We
have worked with Stewart's managementto make their store a successful venture
inharmony with our
neighborhood.

Our
efforts with regard to the 3/4 acreparcel across the street, have
helpedassure the
success of the Stewart's shop.

The Stewart's shop will undergo
changethis year. The
store will be relocated onthe green space adjacent to the
existingstore which
will be razed for an expandedparking lot and expansion of gas
pumpsand
canopy.

We have
urged Stewart's to save thefine Oak located where the
currentgreen
space meets the existing parkinglot, bordering the entrance from
NewScotland
Ave.

This
can be accomplished by leavingit where it is, or moving the tree
tothe park
parcel across the street.

At the recent meeting regarding
theStewart's
expansion, we observed thatexpansion of the gas pump islands
andcanopy
was questionable, and thatestablishment of a traffic
entranceand exit flow
pattern would be essentialto avoid an increase of
vehicle/pedestrianaccidents.

Just recently, a man was hit in
thecrosswalk at
Whitehall/New Scotland.

5.The 7 acre parcel
Krum Kill atNew
Scotland

We
defeated two atttempts to locatea big box store on that
parcel.

The parcel
is privately owned.

We have recommended that the
Citywork out a
transfer of developmentrights plan whereby the parcel
ownersdeed the parcel
to the City as parklandand in return receive property of
equalvalue downtown
or elsewhere in thecity.

We have further recommended
thatthe 7 acre
parcel front on Krum Killand New Scotland, be connected
withthe 5 acre
landlocked parcel whichhas be rezoned Land Conservation,
atour urging,
and the 10 acre parceladjacent to the Stewarts shop
andCrescent
Dr, which is City owned,to form a 23 Acre
NeighborhoodGreenbelt.8. Buckingham Pond
Park

* tire tracks on the lawn of Bethany Church and the curb island.. also several places further West

* the memorial wreath on the tree near corner of Euclid

* stop signs recently installed on Buckingham Dr are being run.. the resultant traffic back ups, at afternoon rush only add to air pollution and make it difficult for residents to enter or leave their drive way.

* other neighborhood stop signs are routinely being run * speeding vehicles, including snow plows continue Red Light cameras will donothing to stop this -A proclamation by Mayorand/or Common Councilthat "all traffic laws willbe strictly enforced" anddirecting the APD to doso, will do the job.... andbring more revenue tocity the treasury- as wellas contribute of the Mayor'sgoal of making our neighborhoodssafer and more walkable

Enactment of a 25 mphspeed limit in city residentialneighborhoods, as was donein communist NYC, wouldhelp

LITTER AND GRAFITTI PARKING CARS ON FRONTLAWNS

* on the newly installed traffic signal box at Harding/New Scotland

* litter/parked cars on lawn group home 730 NS Ave

* observe other similar happenings along NS Ave and tributary streets.

DYING STREET TREES

* broken limbs/branches fallen here and there

* most trees bear scars of collisions with speeding out of control vehicles

* excessive dumping of road salt, and improper snow plowing are factors in the demise of street trees and dooms replacement trees to an early death

* pedestrians are more at risk from reckless, speeding vehicles, as trees are taken down, not replaced or replaced with flimsy twigs which offer no protection to pedestrians

* one of the 2 replacement trees planted by the City opposite Collins at NS Ave has been vandalized by punks under cover of darkness. The upper half has been broken off.

SNOW PLOWING HASGOTTEN WORSE INSTEADOF IMPROVING * as usual I shovelled my walks and driveway early and did my best to protect our young street tree from the tsunami of road salt sludge caused by speeding snow plows hitting the snow/sludge build up that is left to accumulate in the curb lane

* to no avail- around midnight the speeding snow plow struck leaving behind a wave of heavy salt/sludge over the street trees and sidewalk, filling in driveways

* I summoned a DGS supervisor who appeared with another DGS worker in a pick up with plow.

As we were surveying the mess one of the culprits passed by in a big yellow plow truck. He was a gypsy hired to supplement DGS staff with snow plowing.

The driver of the pick up said "we are not all bad". I concurred.

There are many fine DGS and other City workers, such as those in the water department, who recently addressed a problem we were having.

I offered to teach a course in snow plowing 101 ala former Mayor Whalen who had it right using slow moving, tandem plows which began clearing the streets as soon as the snow began to fall.

But that was decades ago. And homeowners hereface the specter of reassessmentand higher property taxes in2015 and surrender of localsingle family zoning to HUD?

Neighborhood residents whowant to be active in yourneighborhood associationand get things done - lookaround your street- send meyour observations- I maydecide to print those thatare brief and to the point.

In any case, I am out therewalking the hood and willpost my observations fromtime to time.

I challenge you to do thesame.

"See something-say somethingpost something"

You are all part of the neighborhood watch. Carry your cell phonewith you at all times. Observe what occurs onyour street during the dayand after dark.